RWC week 2

How interesting is this world cup so far? The game that has thrown the cat amongst the pigeons has to be the Irish v Oz game. The Irish played such a top game and their forwards totally outmanouvered and outmuscled the Australians no end. They neutralised the threat of Genia and you can see that Quade is believing his hype, running things from his 22 when he had plenty of time to kick it clear. The main talking point about this RWC is the fact that the minow teams who can ill afford a few major injuries are the ones that have the toughest draw regarding turnaround times between games. Properly unfair, and therein lies part of the difference between the Soccer and Rugby world cups, even an average team in soccer has the ability to beat a top tier nation, based not only their player resources, but a little luck and relatively even schedule loads... The IRB should note that from the viewing evidence that i have noticed, most of the spectators have been getting the most satisfaction from seeing the minow teams perform and give the top tier nations a good run for their money. the loudest cheers come when they score tries or do something outstanding. All they need is a little exposure and regular rugby in good structures and boom they will be a formidable opponent...look at Samoa and Argentina, they have the players with ability but top flight rugby has given them more structure and refinement. Bok supporters, is PdV still a useless coach or was that win only attributable to the players...as usual? Yes it was only Fiji and a pretty unknown Fiji side, who SA should ordinarily murder, but because of the previous weeks performance, which i believe was more a result of Wales playing beyond themselves than it was SA's bad play (the boks were pretty kak, but thats because they werent allowed to play). The Boks showed what they can do with ball in hand, which is what i have always said, FdP is off his game properly and i think he and the rest of SA are resting on his past glory, but in Hougaard you have a hungry player who is tactically as sound as FdP, play him, there may be that game where introducing him 20 min at the death wont be able to save SA. But I think the Boks are in good shame, should be an interesting game against Samoa. As impressive as this Samoan team is, the Boks will have too much for them. The Samoans play an unrefined game. Like against Wales, you have a penalty infront of the post and need to score twice to win, take the 3, and start again, because that will put more pressure on the Welsh because they know one mistake and they gone, now all they knew was that worst case scenario was a draw...mcimn I see England making the finals again with that random rugby of theirs, especially with Ireland beating Oz, they only have a 6 nations tournament to contend with to advance to the finals. SA have a good chance too, but I am thinking if they 'throw' their game against Samoa, they will also have an easier ride to the finals, because then they go to Englands half of the draw as opposed to the tri-nations side of the draw. Game of this week is NZ v France, looking forward to this game, I am not too concerned about the result here, because even if we lose we win, why, because we will then end up in the 6 nations half of the draw and take a "South African" (easy) route to the finals, (sorry had throw that in there :)) France have made an interesting choice at no 10 playing Morgan Para, are they not taking this game seriously? I think this is when the ABs RWC starts, the centres will be Nonu and Smith, wings Kahui and hmm tough one, perhaps Jane for his experience or Dagg for his x factor, oh this abundance of talent is the ABs achilles heel i tell you. Best tournament i have watched so far, because there hasnt been a dull game...that i have watched at least Chat again next week, i'll have a bit more to say then :)

Opening of RWC2011

Could anyone have asked for a more entertaining and exciting start to RWC2011?!! I am not much a fan of opening and closing ceremonies and the like, I find them a tad OTT and a tad wasteful, but as far as opening ceremonies goes, this RWC in my mind has only been second to SWC2010 in SA. I liked the inclusion of indigenous Maori culture to the games. Then there was the Sipi Tau, so passionately and aggressively delivered followed by the most intense Kamate I have seen in a long while. then the games began. What i really enjoyed about the opening weekend is not that the top tier nations are crap, but that the second tier nations have narrowed the gap significantly and we can thank the development of Japanese rugby clubs, French, English and Irish clubs with deep pockets, because what it does is exposes a whole lot more people to professional rugby, not to mention New Zealand's ITM cup which caters for many Tongan, Fijian and Samoan players. The first game was alright as a hit out. The All Blacks werent all too convincing but that being said, I was impressed with the Tongan second half showing, they really played a structured game and took it to the ABs. Before the game the talk of the town was why is GH doing this that and the next. People leave GH alone, man has a problem, too many hot backs to choose from and any of them can do the job. People are saying SBW is a one trick pony yes everyone knows that but how many have stopped him, Cheetahs perhaps thats it. Personally I like Conrad Smith and Ma'a, but there was nothing wrong with SBW and Ma'a, they had to counter the hard hitting Tongans. Agains the French SB will play off the Bench, I doubt Richie will play against Japan. Richie is old and slow, do me a favour, go and watch the man play, he may not be stealing as much ball as he used to, but a better loosie at the moment I know not. Let anyone be running who is there to support, let there be a need to carry the ball up who will be there to offer a hand if Jerome isnt there, let a tackle need to be made...i can go on... Then the back 3 Iceman, Richard and Izzy, please complain to me...Yes the second half was a dud, but the Tongans brought it, The ABS had killed the game in the first, so why risk injury? Japan v France, I was too excited to watch Japanland, France is my second team cos I just love their reckless abandon with ball in hand, but i was rooting for Japan. All hail John Kirwan, the team isnt as big as the French, but they had them rattled plenty! Oh how I was wishing, hoping praying that Argentina would have enough in the tank to take out England, but unfortunately as is always the case England know how to win these tight games with their stupid thugs!! Had Contepomi and Tieste stayed on I think the english would have sweat a few more beads, but alas it wasnt to be. I quite enjoyed Haskels play from the flank as well as Ben Youngs impact from the bench, it was the difference between the teams, well and some wayward goal kicking, but alas that English AB wanna be jersey has got to go!! Namibia fought valiantly against Fiji, but those big west African looking brothers were just too fast and strong for them, but it was great to see that they didnt just roll over and die. Italy v Australia, Guys and gals, Australia are hot, yes the first half score was 6-6, but man from what I saw this is the team. Forwards were scrumming well hitting the rucks, Radike and Rocky look angry and industrious, the backs one cant say enough about them. My concern for them though is that Genia is to them what DC is to the ABs, he goes I dont think Burgess is the same kind of player. Ireland wont have enough for the Ausies I dont believe judging by the weekends game, the USA will be beaten by Aus, but it will be a workout. I was really impressed by their game against the Irish, maybe the rain added to it being competitive but alas... I think I have figured it out. I dont particularly like the average Bok supporter, consider me jaded by the comments I read on Rugby365 et al, but I really want PdV to do well so he can say in your eye to all these random wannabe supporters. Yesterday's game, I couldnt help but feel sorry fro the Welsh, in the opening stanza I was like aye-ye Springboks aye ye, that was a beautiful lead up to the try, the best start of any of the top 3 countries thus far, but that was the kerosine the Welsh needed to light up the fire in the dragons belly and man did they put it out there. they dominated every facet of play...EVERY except where it counts most...the scoreboard, sport can be such a cruel thing sometimes but alas they tried, but you know this gives the likes of Fiji and Samoa who are taken lightly at your own peril some belief. I dont like to dwell on other teams problems, i prefer to focus on my own team, but what was clearly evident was the fire provided by the timely substitutions of Alberts, Bissie and Francois. Not once in that whole game did i hear Spies' name being uttered. And Try Hard Habanna needs to take a chill pill for a few. The saddest thing now for the Boks is the conundrum they now find themselves in. Vic, injured, Jean injured, so who captains if John benches for Bissie? Schalk perhaps? Anyway this weeks games of interest will be the Bokke v Fiji and Wales v Samoa Happy viewing Y